Background. Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) at ≤20°C for aortic arch surgery has been widely used for decades, with or without cerebral perfusion (CP), antegrade (ACP) or retrograde. In recent years nadir temperature progressively increased to 26-28 °C (moderately hypothermic circulatory arrest, MHCA), adding ACP. Aim of this multicentric study is to evaluate early results of aortic arch surgery and if DHCA with 10-minute of cold reperfusion at the same nadir temperature of the CA before rewarming (delayed rewarming, DR) can provide a neuroprotection and a lower body protection similar to that provided by MHCA+ACP. Methods. Two-hundred-ten patients were included in the study. DHCA+DR was used in 59 patients and MHCA+ACP in 151. Primary endpoints were death, neurologic event (NE), temporary (TNE) or permanent (permanent neurologic deficit, PND), and need of renal replacement therapy (RRT). Results. Operative mortality occurred in 14 patients (6.7%), NEs in 17 (8.1%) and PNDs in 10 (4.8%). Twenty-three patients (10.9%) needed RRT. Death+PND occurred in 21 patients (10%) and composite endpoint in 35 (19.2%). Intergroup weighed logistic regression analysis showed similar prevalence of deaths, NDs and death+PND, but need of RRT (OR 7.39, CI 1.37-79.1) and composite endpoint (OR 8.97, CI 1.95-35.3) were significantly lower in DHCA+DR group compared with MHCA+ACP group. Conclusions. The results of our study demonstrate that DHCA+DR has the same prevalence of operative mortality, NE and association of death+PND than MHCA+ACP. However, the data suggests that DHCA+DR when compared with MHCA+ACP provides better renal protection and reduced prevalence of composite endpoint.

Background and aim of the study. To report early clinical outcomes of the frozen elephant trunk technique (FET) for the treatment of complex aortic diseases after transition from conventional elephant trunk. Methods. A single-center, retrospective study of patients who underwent hybrid aortic arch and FET repair for aortic arch and/or proximal descending aortic aneurysms, acute and chronic Stanford type A aortic dissection with arch and/or proximal descending involvement, Stanford type B acute and chronic aortic dissections with retrograde aortic arch involvement. Results. Between December 2017 and May 2020, 70 consecutive patients (62.7±10.6 years, 59 male) were treated: 41 (58.6%) for acute conditions and 29 (41.4%) for chronic. Technical success was 100%. In-hospital mortality was 14.2% (n=12, 17.1% emergency vs. 10.3% chronic, P=NS); 2 (2.9%) major strokes; 1 (1.4%) spinal cord injury. Follow-up was 12.5 months (IQR 3.7—22.3. Overall survival at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months was 90% (95% CI, 83.2—97.3), 85.6% (95% CI, 77.7—94.3), 79.1% (95% CI, 69.9—89.5), 75.6% (95% CI, 65.8—86.9) and 73.5 (95% CI, 63.3—85.3). There were no aortic re-interventions and no dSINE; 5 patients with residual type B dissection underwent TEVAR completion. Conclusions. In a real-world setting, FET demonstrated a rapid learning curve and good clinical outcomes, even in acute type A aortic dissections. Techniques to perfect the procedure and to reduce remaining risks, and consensus on considerations such as standardized cerebral protection need to be reported.

Papillary fibroelastomes are rare benign neoformations usually originating from the valvular endocardium, presenting with cerebral ischemia and/or myocardial infarction due to embolization from the mass. We report an exceedingly rare case of aortic wall papillary fibroelastoma simulating unstable angina, diagnosed with trans-thoracic/trans-esophageal echocardiography and CT scan and surgically successfully removed

Reimplantation of the supra-aortic vessels can be challenging with Thoraflex Hybrid. A device modification made the vessel lengths more appropriate and the position of the neo-vessels in the chest avoided malpositioning and kinking and facilitated sternum closure; this may improve operating times as well as allowing complete and continuous cerebral trivascular perfusion and corrects positioning of the intrathoracic vessels.

Background Displacement of Impella 5.0 secondary to patient movement or transportation is a well known complication. Typically, repositioning of an Impella across the aortic valve is attempted over a guidewire. We present the first case, to our knowledge, of repositioning a dislodged Impella 5.0 without a guidewire under transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) guidance, by inducing rapid ventricular pacing to cross the aortic valve. Case presentation: A 70-year-old man with low left ventricular ejection fraction underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG). On 2nd postoperative day a low cardiac output state developed with increasing lactate levels and consequently the patient was taken to the cardiac catheterization laboratory for insertion of an Impella 5.0. Suddenly the Impella system failed with a rapid hemodynamic deterioration and it was successfully bedside repositioned inducing rapid ventricular pacing. Conclusions: In case of accidental Impella dislodgement and fast deterioration of patient’s hemodynamic status, rapid pacing may be an option to “open” the aortic valve thus aiding quick replacement of Impella 5.0 through the aortic valve into the left ventricle under TEE guidance.